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Anderson Cooper is closing a remarkable chapter in his career. After nearly 20 years as a correspondent for CBS's 60 Minutes, the veteran journalist announced he will not be
renewing his contract, choosing instead to focus on family and his ongoing work at CNN.
Cooper, who first joined the iconic newsmagazine in 2006, described the role as one of the defining experiences of his professional life. "Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honours of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business," he said in a statement.
The decision, he explained, was deeply personal. As the father of two young sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, Cooper emphasized the importance of being present during their formative years. "For nearly twenty years, I've been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me," he noted.
Cooper's journey with 60 Minutes was both unexpected and transformative. Reflecting on his early days, he once admitted, "I have no idea how I became a correspondent. I am thrilled to be a correspondent on 60 Minutes. It is a show that I've watched from the moment it started, and we used to watch with my family and talk about stories that we were seeing." That sense of awe never faded, as he continued to describe the experience as "thrilling" and an "honour."
His tenure at CBS coincided with his continued prominence at CNN, where he anchors Anderson Cooper 360° and co-hosts the network's annual New Year's Eve broadcast alongside Andy Cohen. Cooper renewed his CNN contract in late 2025, signalling that while he is stepping away from 60 Minutes, he remains firmly committed to his role at the cable network.
CBS News acknowledged his departure with gratitude, praising his contributions over the years. "For more than two decades, Anderson Cooper has taken 60 Minutes viewers on journeys to faraway places, told us unforgettable stories, reported consequential investigations and interviewed many prominent figures," the network said in a statement. They also made clear that the door remains open should he ever choose to return to 60 Minutes.
Beyond his professional achievements, Cooper's personal life has increasingly shaped his priorities. He shares parenting duties with his ex-partner, Benjamin Maisani, describing their co-parenting arrangement as "very natural." Cooper has even joked about Maisani speaking French to their children: "I have no idea what they're saying. I think they're plotting against me."
The departure comes at a time of transition for CBS News, which has faced leadership changes and high-profile exits in recent months. Yet Cooper's exit feels less like part of that upheaval and more like a deliberate, heartfelt choice to embrace fatherhood.
